Electro-mechanical steam-engine recording-indicator



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. G. COLLINS. BLEGTRO MECHANICAL STEAM. ENGINE RECORDING INDIGATOR. No. 495,148. Patented Apr 11, 1893.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. G. COLLINS. ELECTED MECHANICAL STEAM ENGINE RECORDING INDICATOR. N0. 495,148. PaientedApr. 11, 1893.

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R. G. COLLINS. ELEGTRO MECHANICAL STEAM ENGINE RECORDING INDICATOR. .No. 495,148. Patented Apr. 11, 1893.

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ELEGTRO MEGHANIOAL STEAM ENGINE RECORDING INDICATOR. No. 495,148.. Patented Apr. 11, 1893.

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REUBEN G. COLLINS, OF DOLLAR BAY, MICHIGAN.

ELECTED-MECHANICAL STEAM-ENGINE RECORDING-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,148, dated April 11, 1893. Application filed May 2, 1892. Serial No. 431,602. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, REUBEN G. COLLINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dollar Bay, in the county of Houghton and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electro-Mechanical Steam Engine Indicators, which improvements are fully set forth and described in the following specification, reference being made to the accompanying four sheets of drawings.

This invention relates to indicators for recording, by means of diagrams the successive pressures in a steam cylinder at every point of the stroke, and the same may be also utilized to measure the pressure in cylinders of air, gas, and water engines and pumps.

The immediate object of my invention is to provide an indicator by means of which continuous diagrams or readings may be taken; automatic mechanism being provided for bringing fresh cards (in ribbon form) into proper position to be acted upon bythe pencil or stylus.

The drawings annexed hereto will assist in explaining the said invention, Figure 1 being a side elevation of a portion of the bed of a horizontal steam engine, with cylinder, piston rod, slide-block, &c., mounted thereon, and showing also my newly invented indicator properly connected therewith. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of said indicator and Fig 2 is a detail view to be hereinafter referred to. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the indicator as seen in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the supporting frame D, showing also a sliding bolt H which serves to actuate the paper feed mechanisms. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View of the barrel 6 and of the spring contained therein, and Fig. 6 is a detached View of the lower end of the arbor ewhich is actuated by said spring. Fig. 6 shows one of the brackets provided for supporting the roll of paper and Fig. 7 is a plan view of the same. Figs. 8 and 9 show side and plan views of mechanism for changing the electric current from one circuit to the other, as hereinafter explained. Fig. 10 shows end and edge views of the commutator employed to make and break the electric circuit and in Fig. 11 I have illustrated a bolt 10 which bears a pawl used in imparting a step by step, rotary, movementto said commutator. Fig. 12 shows So far as I am familiar with indicators of i this class none has been designed forprodncing continuously recorded, separate diagrams; all such prior devices having been designed for the taking of single'diagrams or readings and when it has heretofore been desired to obtain several readings, representing successive strokes of the engine, the diagrams have so conflicted with each other (because of the fact of their being practically on the same field) as to make it difficult if not altogether impossible, to trace out the lines of each individual diagram and even if it were possible to pick out and measure the lines separately it would be impossible to determine the relation each diagram bore to the strokes of the engine, so that while changes of load might have occurred it would be im possible to tell which diagram was made at the time of such change. This invention seeks to overcome this defect by presenting to the pencil point or stylus a new surface of paper'for each stroke of the engine, thus making any number of readings possible, and separating the diagrams so that each one may be readily measured and studied independently.

It will also be seen that this invention will render it possible to obtain accurately a record of the power developed by an engine for a stated time, and will also show distinctly when changes of load have occurred and what the effect of such change was upon the engine. To accomplish these very desirable results it is found necessary to provide two independent ribbons of paper, upon which diagrams may be alternately taken, of the alternate strokes of the engine. Of course, if desired, only one of said ribbons need be used and a diagram of cveryother stroke obtained and in many cases this would be considered satisfactory. I have however provided for termediate them whereby the pencil or stylus is made to act alternately on the paper ribbons, which are each fed forward at the time the pencil acts on the other.

In the drawings annexed hereto I have shown steam-cock, cylinder, pencil-arm, '&c., of the so called arc indicator and it is obvious that any of the ordinary makes of pencil-controlling mechanisms can be utilized with my improvements, henceI make no'claim for novelty in those parts excepting the attachment of an armature to the ring'encircling the cylinder and carrying the pencilarm, which ring, being a loose fit around the cylinder (see Fig. 4) permits the slight vibratory movement necessary to allow the pencilarm to move from side to side to enable the pencil to engage alternately the ribbons.

It will be noted that instead of a cylinder or barrel as ordinarily used to carry the paper cards, I have provided sectors of comparatively large radius, their use giving better opportunity to apply simple and practical feed mechanism.

It will be understood that I do not confine myself to the use of sectors for this purpose, as planes having a vibratory rectilinear'movement can be used, and the same effect obtained.

'Before describing in detail the'construction of my indicator, and its action, I will explain briefly the principle of my circuit changing devices, used in connection with the indicator proper.

Referring to Figs. '1, 2, and 3, which show, respectively, a general view of my improved indicator, in place for use, and adetailedelevation, and plan-view of the indicator proper comprising said circuit changer, the latter view showing the same with cover removed. The circuit changer is to be attached to some portion of the engine frame, or bed, in such position that a sliding bolt (10) see Figs. '1 and 10 will lie in the path of, and be engaged by, a reciprocating part of the engine (as for example the cross-head); the said bolt being then pressed back a distance sufficient to bring into action the circuit changing mechanism, the construction of which I shall presently describe in detail. This circuit changer is connected byindependent wire circuitswith four pairs of electro-magnets attached to the indicator frame, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3,'and 14. The upper pairs of magnets act to vibrate the pencil arm, at proper times, and

' thus shift the double pointed pencil d fr0m one ribbon of paper to the other, or companion, ribbon. A simple mechanical attachment may be arranged on the engine frame, which will press the bolt (10) back and bring into action the circuit changing device, at any point of the stroke, thus allowing change of pencil or stylus from one ribbon to the other, at any point of stroke of engine that may be found most desirable. The lower pairs of magnets serve to vibrate an arm which controls the paper feeding devices and actuatcs alternately said feed-devices to bring a fresh section of paper into position to be acted upon by the pencil.

Having thus explained in general terms the nature and action of my new indicator I will proceed to describe the same in detail. Fig. 1 illustrates the manner of attaching the same.

The lettera denotes the engine cylinder and b the cross-head attached to the piston-rod. The indicator proper is mounted on the cylinder in the usual way; that is to say, a pipe at is connected with each end'of thecylinder by means of elbows, or'short sections of pipe 2) which, preferably are provided with checkvalves as shown. Projecting upward from pipe at is ashort section 0 of pipe, to the upper end of which is screwed a cylinder 0 within which is a piston that is forced downward (against the steam pressure when in service) by a spring. Thegpiston-rod 0' extends slightly beyond the cylinder 0 and upon the end of said rod rests a pencil-arm dthat is fulcrumed on a bracket-'armC', which is a portion of a loose ring encircling the cylinder 0,-as best seen in Fig. 2. scribed elements are substantially the same as the corresponding parts of several well known indicators.

D denotes a plate secured to the cylinder 0, serving to support the paper feeding devices and also the magnets that control said devices. The plan out-line of said frameis best illustrated in Fig. 4.

EE are sectors, free to move about their central supports which consist of stems e reaching downward through tubular bearings e secured to the under side of the frame D. The lower ends of the axial stems eare threaded to receive thumb-nuts e which serve to clamp to the stem one half of a barrel-arbor e the companion half of said arbor (thebarrel proper, e being secured to or formed as a part of the tubular section 6'. Within the barrel thus formed is located a coil spring e (see Fig. 5) one of whose ends is secured to the inner wall of the arbor 6 the other end being secured to the outer wall of. the barrel proper t. By-partially unscrewing the thumbnut 6 the section e of the barrel-arbor may be rotated to provide any desired tension of the spring 6 when the nut may again be screwed home and the arbor section e firmly clamped to the axial sterne. The springs c then act with a constant tendency to rock'the sectors E toward the cylinderC.

f denotes a cord connected at one end with one of the reciprocating parts of the steam engine, by any suitable reducing motion, and

firmly attached by its other end to one of the Thus far the desectors E as shown, and is guided in the desired direction by a wheel or sheave f.

FF are segments or pieces of thin metal plate, fastened to, and movable with, the sectors E. These plates form two smooth confronting substantially arc-shaped surfaces for the support of the paper while it is being acted on by the pencil.

g-g are small cords or metallic bands which are drawn taut from either end of one sector E to the opposite end of the companion sector E and are held in place by clamping screws g, so that any motion of one sector about its center will communicate a similar motion to the other sector. The sectors, and their attached plates F, around which plates the paper is to be drawn, are shown in the drawings in their central position and are designed to vibrate in each direction a sufficient distance to allow a diagram to be taken nearly as long as the face of the sectors.

GG are vertical rolls (located near the axial centers of the sectors) journaled in stands on the frame D and having secured to their upper ends gears g A third roll G with a gear 9 at its upper end is journaled near the rolls G in such manner that it may engage each of said rolls G. Roll G serves as a master-roll to control the movements of the paper feeding devices and has on its lower end a ratchet-wheel g which is engaged by a bolt or pawl H that is longitudinally movable in bearings h on frame D. The master rolls G are held in slots in the sectors at each end as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 13 and are pressed into engagement with the rolls G by an elliptic spring 7t which bears against half-journal blocks 71 as seen in the detail view Fig. 13. These springs h are of sufiicient strength to keep the master roll bearing tightly against the rolls G, which latter it should be understood are not in contact with each other.

J-J denote brackets designed to be clamped around the tubular projection e, each bracket being formed with across-head, J, as seen in Fig. 6 bearing spindles Zc-Zc provided to let oif and take up the ribbon of paper upon which the diagrams are marked, whenever necessary. The spindle is, upon which the coil of paper is first placed, is simply a pin or stud while the spiudle'k upon which the used paper is to be coiled is preferably split lengthwise so that the end of the paper may be entered therein and secured against slipping around on said spindle. The take-up spindle 7c is journaled in the crosshead of the bracket and is connected with a spring in a barrel-arbor 10 arranged precisely as the one already described in connection with the sectors E, and therefore not shown and operates, whenever resistance is removed from the strip of paper, to coil said paper around the spindle it. Having first placed on the spindle a roll of paper, its end is carried between one of the rolls G and the master-roll and thence around the outer (circumferential) face of the sector-plate. It is then passed between the master-roll and the other roll G and finally secured to the spindle 7c, the course of the ribbon of paper being plainly indicated by arrows in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The spring-actuated take-up spindle 7e, seeks constantly to coil the paper about itself or feed it forward but is prevented, (except at desired times) by the friction of the feed mechanism, but so soon as each diagram is completed the paper is drawn forward by the partial rotation of the feed rolls, caused by the engagement of the pawl 11 with the ratchet wheel, attached to the lower end of the master roll, (which engagement occurs only at the time sectors are being drawn forward by the strain of the main 00rd,) and this loose paper which is fed through the rolls, is taken up on the spindle it, but the spring of said spindle is not strong enough to draw the paper through the feed rolls except when they are rotated or moved by other force; a fresh surface of paper is thus made ready for the next alternate stroke of the engine.

To prevent too great a movement of the sectors, four hubs or studs '27, are provided 011 the upper face of the plate D and corresponding pins n are provided on the lower side of the sectors. It will be noted that the stopstuds n and theirengaging pins n at one end of the sector stroke are located in a different radius from or at a greater or less distance from the pivotal point of the sector than those at the other end so that those in the greater radius are not in the same path as those in the lesser radius, thus allowing the full vibratory movement of the sectors, otherwise impossible.

I will now explain the construction and action of the magneto-electric devices by means of which the pencil is forced alternately into operative contact with the two ribbons of paper and by means of which the paper-feeding mechanisms are alternately brought into action.

I have already referred briefly to four pairs of electro-magnets which are mounted on the frame D, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 3. Two pairs (2 and 3) of these magnets are in the same horizontal plane with a rearwardly projecting arm d of the pencil-bar d, said arm serving as the armature of both magnets. Two other magnets, 4 and 5, are fixed immediately beneath those first above described and between the confronting ends of said magnets 45 is one end of a lever m which is fulcrumed at m on the plate D (as seen in Fig. 4) and is attached at its other end to the longitudinally movable pawl-rod H. I prefer to make the end of the lever on thin, and elastic, and for that purpose find it convenient to rivet or screw a section m of sheet steel or brass to the lever proper, as seen in Fig. 4. Both the lever m and the pencil-bar cl are free to vibrate laterally a limited distance and it will now be understood that by energizing the several magnets in proper succession said le- IIO ver and bar may be caused to move simultaneously from side to side for the purposes specified.

To accomplish the desired result I have provided circuit changing devices best seen in Figs. 1, 8, and 14 of the drawings, wherein the reference figure 6 denotes a casing having journaled therein a commutator 7 of insulating material which is free to rotate in said casing. To one side of the commutator is firmly secured a ratchet disk 8, the teeth of which may be engaged by a pawl 9 carried by a sliding bolt 10 located in the lower portion of the casing. This bolt projects beyond the face of the casing, normally, and is pressed outward by a helical spring 11 shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8. The casing should be se-v cured to some portion of the engine where the projecting end of the bolt 10 will be engaged and forced ahead by every stroke of the piston. bolt then acts (through pawl 9) to rotate the ratchet-disk and commutator with a step by step movement.

On the periphery of the commutator are.

fastened an even number of metallic segments 12, 13, one upon each of the ratchet teeth,-as shown in Fig. 8. Each alternate segment is cutinto two parts and the successive segments, whether in one or two parts, are insulated from each other.

14, 14 and 15, 15 are metallic brushes firmly fastened at one end, in pairs, to a block of insulating material, the free ends of said brushes resting on one of two contiguous segments of the commutator, so that the pair of brushes on the unbroken segment will have a metallic connection with each other (through the segment) sufficient to insurethe passage .of an electric current, while the pair of brushes then resting on the broken segment would be insulated from each other.

In Fig. 8 binding posts 16, 17, 18, 19 are fastened to the casing 6 but insulated therefrom by washers 6 of insulating material. Posts 16, 17 are connected with brushes 14, 14 and posts 18-19 are wired to brushes 15,15. The magnets 2, 3, 4:, 5 are connected in circuit in such a manner that the diagonally opposite magnets 2 and 5 are in one circuit and 3 and t in another circuit, thus causing the magnets 2 and 5 to be simultaneously energized when the electric current traverses their circuit and 3 and 4 when it traverses the other circuit (see Fig. 14 which illustrates the manner of wiring). I prefer to make these wires up into cable form, each wire being covered with different colored insulation from its neighbors,

which will allow them to be readily distinguished from one another and facilitate the making of the electric connections.

The bolt 10 which I have described, is provided with a stud or trunnion 20 that projects laterally through a slot in the casing and serves to limit the movement of the bolt in either direction. A latch 21 is hung on the casing in such position that its free end may The reciprocating motion of said be dropped in the rear of stud 20 when the bolt 10 is forced inward as in Fig. 8; thus providing a lock to hold the bolt out of engagement with the reciprocating part of the engine, with which it coacts, except at such times as itis desired to take one or more diagrams.

When it is desired to begin the taking of a succession of diagrams the latch 21 is moved out of locking contact with stud 20 and the bolt 10, impelled by the spring 11, moves forward until the stud 20 reaches the end of its slot and the pawl 9 is drawn tothe rear of the next succeeding notch of the ratchet-disk 8 on the side of the commutator. Upon the return of the reciprocating part of the engine of the bolt 10 is pushed inward, against the force of the spring 11 and the pawl 9 turns the commutatora distance equal to the-length of one tooth of the ratchet-disk. This movement of the commutator causes each pair of brushes to drop to the next succeeding segment and the pair then resting upon the unbroken segment are connected in circuit and as a result the pairs of electro-magnets in that circuit are energized. Inasmuch as the broken and unbroken segments alternate on the periphery of the commutator cylinder, of course, it follows that the pair-of brushes occupying the broken, or separated, segment are not in electric circuit. Each stroke of the engine acts on the bolt and moves the wheel commutator one notch or tooth of the ratchet, thus making and breaking the electric current, or rather changing it from one pair of connecting wires to the ot-her,-energizing the different sets of magnets alternately. The magnets are so wired relative to the circuit changer that the action on the two armatures is in opposite directions, so that the feeding forward of the paper occurs on one side while the pencil is making a diagram on the other side. The wiring could be so arranged that the armatures would move in the same direction but this would necessitate the compounding of levers on the mechanism actuated by the lower armature and I therefore prefer the simple construction here shown.

The bolt H is of such length as to allow the ratchet wheels on the lower end of the paperfeeding rolls to pass it without contact when the bolt is held in its central position and it will be noted that I have provided a small pin 22 which fits a hole in each of the bolt bear ings h and passes through a corresponding hole in the bolt, which pin is used to lock the bolt in its central position.

The double pointed pencil d employed to trace the diagram on the paper may be an ordinary lead pencil or, preferably, a silver or copper stylus which may be used with a metallic faced paper, thus making it possible to take many more readings than would be practicable with an ordinary lead pencil. Such paper is readily obtainable and is comparatively inexpensive.

Fig. 2 illustrates a simple clamp by means of which single cards may be secured to one of the sector plates F when continuous diagrams are not required. These clamps (one of which should be used at each end of the sector) are formed of a thin strip of metal having its upper end doubled backupon itself as at s to form a clasp that may be slipped down on the upper edge of the sector plate and the lower end of said clamp strip is round as shown and fitsinto a hole 3 in the sector. The cards may be readily entered between these clamps or clips and the plates F and either sector may then perform the work of ordinary card-indicators.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In an indicator, the combination with two movable confronting paper supports, of a vertically and laterally movable pencil intermediate them, substantially as set forth.

2. In an indicator, two confronting paper supports as set forth and a double-pointed pencil located intermediate therewith and free to be moved into engagement with either support, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. An indicator having two arc-shaped confronting paper supports each having mechanism for carrying and feeding a ribbon of paper, a pencil intermediate the said supports, and mechanism for actuating alternately the said paper feeding mechanism; said elements being combined substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. An indicator having two confronting arcshaped paper supports, a pencil-arm and pencil intermediate therewith, and electrically controlled magnets coacting with said pencil arm to bring the pencil alternately into operative engagement with the said paper supports, all being combined substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In an indicator, in combination, two confronting are shaped paper supports, and a double pointed pencil intermediate therewith; said supports being connected and caused to vibrate in unison by mechanism substantially as specified.

6. In an indicator, in combination, two confronting arc shaped paper supports, the axial shaft of both supports being provided with a barrel-arbor and spring as set forth, and stop pins and studs as described in the said supports and their supporting frames for limiting the vibration in either direction.

7. In combination with duplex arc-shaped paper supports, paper feed rolls and springactuated take-up spindles as specified, and mechanism substantially as described for engaging with and moving said feed rolls, to bring a fresh section of paper into position to be acted upon by the pencil.

8. In combination with the confronting, vibrating, paper supports, and rolls for feeding ribbons of paper as set forth, a lever formed as apencil support at one end and as an armature at its opposite end, a second lever having one end connected with mechanism for controlling said feed rolls and its opposite end formed as an armature, electro-magnets as herein described for actuating said armatures, and a circuit changer wired with said magnets in such manner that the armatures are simultaneously actuated in opposite directions; all being'substantially as and for the purposes specified.

REUBEN G. COLLINS.

Witnesses:

FRANK H. ALLEN, ALONZO M. LUTHER. 

